The U.S. Major General “[appears] to be the highest-ranking member of the American military to die in hostilities since the Vietnam War.” Major General John Albert B. Dillard, Jr. “was killed on May 12, 1970, when his helicopter was shot down.”

RT.com reports that the attack took place around noon. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said, “a terrorist in any uniform” carried out the heinous act by “[opening] fire on both local and international troops…[including] three Afghan army officers.”